Bleville AI Oneshots

Real

Neville stood in the middle of the empty greenhouse, his heart pounding louder than the rain drumming against the glass above. His hands twisted together, his nerves getting the best of him. He wasn't sure how he had ended up here, waiting for Blaise Zabini, of all people.

They'd been doing this fake dating thing for a while now-showing up to events together, causing a stir in the circles of the wizarding elite. Neville had played his part well enough, even if he still wasn't entirely sure why he'd agreed to it in the first place. But lately... lately something had shifted. The touches had lingered too long, the words too warm, and now he didn't know where the pretense ended and the truth began.

Blaise swept into the greenhouse, his robes billowing out like smoke. He didn't say anything at first, just raised an eyebrow as he took in Neville's flushed face, the way his hands wouldn't stay still.

"You're fidgeting, Longbottom," Blaise said, the corner of his mouth quirking up in amusement as he closed the distance between them.

Neville swallowed, his throat dry. "I... I wasn't sure if you were going to show up."

"Of course I'd show up," Blaise replied smoothly, stepping closer. His voice dropped a notch, softer. "I always show up."

Neville let out a shaky breath, his heart doing something ridiculous in his chest. Blaise had this way of looking at him that made it hard to think, hard to remember this was all just for show. Wasn't it?

Blaise tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Neville's expression. "What's going on with you?"

Neville hesitated, biting the inside of his cheek. He could feel the words bubbling up inside him, the ones he'd been avoiding, the ones that would ruin everything if he said them aloud. But before he could stop himself, they slipped out.

"This... this fake relationship," Neville said, his voice faltering. "It's starting to feel real."

For the first time, Blaise's carefully composed expression faltered. His eyes darkened, and he took another step closer, close enough now that Neville could feel the warmth radiating from him, could smell the faint hint of cologne and something deeper, something unmistakably Blaise.

"And you don't want it to be real?" Blaise asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Neville's breath caught in his throat. He felt rooted to the spot, like one of the plants in his greenhouse, his feet tangled in unseen vines. He couldn't look away from Blaise, couldn't move. He didn't know how to answer that, because the truth was... the truth was that he did want it to be real. But how could he say that?

Blaise stepped even closer, their bodies nearly touching now. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Neville's jaw, tilting his face up so their eyes locked. The touch was gentle, but it sent a shiver down Neville's spine.

"Because I think it's real for me," Blaise said quietly, his voice like velvet, wrapping around the words. "And I don't play pretend when it comes to things that matter."

Neville's heart stuttered in his chest, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. This couldn't be happening. Blaise Zabini, the smooth, self-assured Slytherin, couldn't possibly be saying this to him. Not here, not like this.

"I-I don't know how to do this," Neville admitted, his voice shaking. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say."

Blaise's smile was soft, his thumb tracing a slow, calming line along Neville's cheek. "You don't have to say anything, Longbottom," he said, his voice low and steady. "Just let me prove it to you."

And before Neville could think, before he could panic, Blaise leaned in, his lips brushing gently against his. The kiss was soft, unhurried, as if Blaise had all the time in the world to show Neville exactly what he meant.

Neville felt his body relax, the tension he'd been carrying for weeks melting away as he let himself lean into the kiss, his hands reaching up to grip Blaise's robes, holding on as if the world might spin out of control if he let go.

When they finally pulled apart, Blaise's forehead rested against Neville's, his breath warm against his skin. "Still worried it's not real?"

Neville laughed, breathless, his heart thudding in his chest. "No," he whispered. "I'm not worried anymore."